Louisville's future in the context of its arts and cultural ecology ...

... and New Albany's dogs still playing poker.

Recommended reading in this morning’s Courier-Journal comes in the form of a commentary contributed by Peter Morrin, director of Louisville’s Speed Art Museum.

A 'creative economy' and the visual arts; Speed's future linked to city's,

In recent years, the citizens of our region have embraced the ambitious goal of moving Louisville into the top-tier of American creative economies. As author Richard Florida has pointed out, achieving this goal is possible only by continuing investment in the city's artistic and cultural attractions.

Two recently published civic development reports, "Beyond Merger: A Competitive Vision for the Regional City of Louisville" and the "2005 Competitive City Report," both stress the importance of Louisville's commitment to education, and a "package of amenities" including a renewed dedication to recreation opportunities, arts and cultural life.

The Speed Art Museum now has the opportunity to build on the recommendations of the two reports, partner in this visual arts renaissance and be a more vibrant contributor to Louisville's arts and cultural ecology.

Imagine living in a place where concepts like “arts and cultural ecology” are the subject of serious discussion and not the target of adolescent chortles from the leading spokesmen of New Albany’s Gang of Four councilmen and their Luddite acolytes.

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Seven days and counting ...